Dublin: The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Daniel Ramamurthy (40), upholding his prison sentence of two years and four months for the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old boy.
Ramamurthy, a motivational speaker known within sections of the Indian community in Ireland and a former government adviser, was convicted of offences committed at a Christian children’s camp in Dublin. The original sentence included a three-year term for child sexual exploitation and a concurrent two-year term related to child pornography offences.
Court Criticism of Character References
During the appeal hearing, John Edwards criticised the nature of character references submitted on behalf of the accused. He noted that while several individuals—including a former TD—provided testimonials highlighting Ramamurthy’s social and charitable work, none addressed the seriousness of the offence or the impact on the victim.
The court declined to reveal the identity of the former public representative who provided a reference, despite growing public and political debate on the issue.
Micheál Martin stated that public representatives should not provide character references in cases involving sexual exploitation or abuse. He also confirmed that he was unaware of the identity of the former TD involved.
Grounds for Appeal Rejected
Ramamurthy’s legal team argued that the sentence was excessive and that insufficient weight had been given to his background, including his record of public service and charitable contributions. However, the court rejected these arguments.
Justice Edwards observed that the appellant had failed to accept responsibility for his actions or demonstrate genuine remorse. He further noted the absence of any acknowledgment of the harm caused to the victim.
The court found evidence indicating an inappropriate sexual interest in minors and concluded that the offender’s past contributions to society could not outweigh the severity of the crime.
Serious Breach of Trust
The judgment emphasised the aggravating factors in the case, including the young age of the victim, the significant age difference, and the abuse of trust. The court noted that the accused used his position within a religious and community setting to facilitate the offence.
The victim was groomed through social media, with the court highlighting the harmful impact of the abuse, including the coercion of explicit images.
The case was originally heard at the Circuit Criminal Court and relates to offences committed in 2017. Ramamurthy, who previously resided in Rathfarnham and had links to Germany, was described in court as a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and social media influencer. He also served as an adviser to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on start-up initiatives and was educated at Yale University.
The Court of Appeal ultimately ruled that the original sentence was appropriate, citing the gravity of the offences and the lack of mitigating factors such as remorse or rehabilitation efforts.
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